So, who is YOUR physical or occupational therapist? I sincerely hope it is a member of the staff here at Inspirit Therapy. We would love to be your therapist for all of your needs—whether it is for something more recent (like a sprained ankle or a sore shoulder) or something that’s been going on for a long time (Headaches, back pain, or incontinence) we are here to help you. We can also work with you on issues that aren’t painful—we can improve muscles that seem weak or uncoordinated, increase motion in your neck or hips, and advise you on fitness and wellness issues. Maybe you’re ready to start at the gym and get in shape but want to know what exercises you can use to make sure you don’t injure yourself, or you want to progress that routine you’ve been doing for “forever”—we can help with those things.

During Pain Awareness Week it is key to know what things might not be working to reduce pain. Many people think that ice heals all but what does it really do? Read this article for some insight into the most overused modality!

This posting is a great example of how medical practice must change in this country. We have become so easy to convince that surgery is “easy and quick” especially compared to 8 weeks of therapy or other conservative management. But surgery is expensive and the cost of the procedure is just the beginning—there’s time off from work, extra expenses, follow ups and even therapy AFTER the procedure if it doesn’t turn out perfectly. We see this frequently in the clinic—people need treatment after surgery anyway. And this is true for all surgeries: back surgeries, knee scopes, Carpal Tunnel releases and bladder slings and hysterectomies often fail to give the desired results and patients require therapy anyway.

Now don’t get me wrong—sometime surgery is the best way to fix an injury or improve function. There are times we try therapy and then say, “Well I guess surgery IS necessary” But there is still a benefit to doing therapy before surgery—more range of motion, more strength, healthier tissues and a lot of knowledge about the surgery and what to expect afterwards. Both your body and your mind will be better prepared for a procedure with even 2-3 therapy sessions beforehand.

I encourage everyone to ask questions about alternatives to surgery. Ask if therapy is beneficial. Your surgeon may discourage it because he/she doesn’t know what therapy might do for you or because they know they could help you, so call a local physical therapist (make sure you talk to an actual therapist, not a receptionist!) and ask them what therapy could do for you before surgery—besides save you thousands of dollars!